Jealous

After running the Great North Run for 2 years on the trot, I didn't want to run it this year. That bottleneck at 8 miles annoys you every time.
However, just the music of the programme starting on the TV made me instantly wish I was doing it, and I watched the whole thing on Sky+ when I got home from circuits, trying to spot Fetchies and anyone I knew. I was jealous... insanely jealous.
It's funny but I can't stand the London Marathon, but GNR is something else!

I woke up totally fine today, no aches or pains (however we all know how that can change over the course of a day). Tonight, just before my run I was aware that the back of my neck was quite sore, and after moving my arms this way and that, trying to work out what exercise had caused it, I think I narrowed it down to upright row...which I have never done before!

I chose a route today that is very hilly. It has a half mile hill at the 1 mile point and coming back another half mile hill that is a lovely downhill run on the way out... becomes a nasty part of the way home.
I can count on my hands how many times in the last two and a bit years I have done this run... and I can probably count on one hand how many times I've ran the whole way. Today I wanted to try it out, as this is to be my next challenge for a long run with the XL vest on. The toughest part of the run comes at about 4 miles where a 1.6 mile hilly road has to be ran (which obviously wasn't tackled today as it was too far for my 1 hour session that was planned), however doing 3 miles out and then back is hard enough.
I was delighted to find it not too bad at all. The last hill I ended up running at a 9.40mm pace... considering I think the fastest I have previously done this is around a 13mm. So, another improvement, which is fantastic. :-)